BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a regular press conference Tuesday that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will visit China in the near future.

Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the specific date for the visit is yet to be decided by the two sides, and the trip, if realized, will be Brown's first visit to China since he took office in June this year.

He said China highly values Sino-British relations and the prime minister's visit.

"The Chinese side is willing to take the visit as an opportunity to have full-fledged and profound discussions with the prime minister on matters of mutual interest and on current international and regional issues," he said.

He also professed hopes for Brown's visit to be successful and conducive for the further development of Sino-British relations.